Local Authorities throughout the country will be visiting shops to check for counterfeit products at the request of Food Standards Scotland, following seizures of toxic fake Glen’s vodka from stores in Coatbridge and Glasgow.
The fraudulent 35cl bottles were found to contain toxic alcohol, Isopropanol, which could prove fatal if consumed in large amounts.
FSS has also been working closely with the brand owner for Glen’s vodka to try and mitigate the risk to consumers by issuing advice to help them distinguish between genuine and counterfeit products.
Every genuine bottle of Glen’s vodka has a laser etched lot code applied to the bottle between the rear label and the base of the bottle.
They will also have specific markings on the base of the bottle – as per the below image – which will not vary in position or detail.
A spokesperson for the Loch Lomond Group, which owns Glen’s Vodka, said: “Our priority is the health and safety of the public which includes our many thousands of loyal Glen’s customers. We are working hard to support the excellent efforts of Food Standards Scotland and the other authorities involved to address the matter urgently. We would urge any customers who suspect they may have a counterfeit product to contact their local council’s environmental health service or the Food Standards Scotland Food Crime and Incidents Unit as quickly as possible.”
If ingested, the toxic alcohol will be converted to acetone and so onset of symptoms may be immediate or delayed, for up to 30 hours. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, intoxication, respiratory depression and coma. Cardiovascular collapse is also possible.
Gordon Mitchell, Head of Crime Operations at FSS, said: “Following further seizures of counterfeit vodka over the weekend, we need the public to be aware of any factors which may help them distinguish counterfeit products from genuine Glen’s. As well as a distinct smell, the counterfeit products are bottled differently to genuine Glen’s and the images provided will help consumers to tell the difference.
“As we do not yet know the scale of distribution of these products, but we do know the potential dangers associated with consumption, we are urging consumers once again to be extremely vigilant and to please get in touch if you have any information relating to the counterfeit vodka. We would also remind retailers that they should only be purchasing products from reputable suppliers.”
If you have any information on the manufacture or sale of counterfeit alcohol, contact the Scottish Food Crime Hotline (0800 028 7926) or online, in partnership with Crimestoppers. The hotline is free and anonymous.
